Point of View: The Story (chapter 3)
"This is a work of fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental."
*Notice:
The characters in this story speak in multiple languages, depending on the situation. But because I only write it in one language, I would like to give some signs to tell you what language they are speaking.
If a person speaks in Khmer, the font is normal e.g. “Hello!”
If a person speaks in English, the font is oblique e.g. "Hello!”
If a person speaks in Japanese, the font is bold e.g. "Hello!"
Part 1: The Departure (continued)
Why?!!!
In the evening around 5 o’clock, CJCC café is closed. I, the person who had two cups of coffee and stayed there until the end, finally leave for home. I am living with Ravy and Nimol in a small rental room. Three of us have left our hometown to live in the capital city to study in universities almost 1 year now.
It is the weekend, so I am not sure if the two is in at home or not. If it is the weekday, we all are busy. But if it is a holiday, I just go to CJCC café and the Ravy and Nimol can be at home, go out for leisure, or maybe go back to our hometown. I do not go back hometown often because it is really troublesome to prepare the luggage every time. So I just go back during a long holiday only.
Standing in front of the room, I do not see that the key is locked at all. Realizing that there is someone in the room, I ring the bell.
The key from the inside of the room is unlocked “click!”. Then a serious-looking face of Nimol is shown. She looked like she is going scold at me.
“We need to talk!”
I follow Nimol into the room.
What the hell is happening?
I keep this question inside my head.
Our room is wide enough for three people, but there is no corridor, so when we open the door, we can see a large bed immediately.
On the bed, there is Ravy holding her phone while looking me. Same kind of face! They are looking at me in the same way!
What the hell?!
“What happened?”
“Have you checked your new feed on Facebook?”
The word “Facebook” from Nimol’s mouth making me realize the situation.
I… passed the exam…?!
Immediately, I drop my backpack behind me and take my phone out from it.
I did not look at my phone at all after talking with Mr. Kosal this morning. I just read manga on iPad and ignored all notifications because I normally check the notifications only when I want to use Facebook. So, it is not strange that I do not know what happened on this social media.
On Facebook, there are a lot of notifications, most of which are about shared content and mention of my name. I click on the one that Nimol shared and realize that it is really about the scholarship exam result!
And the name of the successful candidate is…
Vongs Sela!
It’s me!
I DID pass the exam!!!
But… I cannot be as happy as I thought would…
I mean… Mr. Kosal has already told me the this morning!
It is just like watching the spoiler before the movie!
I am indeed happy, but I cannot shout out!
What should I do? If I stay calm like this, Nimol and Ravy, who are waiting for my reaction, will doubt.
Mr. Kosal said that I should not tell anyone about this morning’s phone call. So I must show off my exhilaration to hide the truth.
Also, if I do not have any reaction, won’t the atmosphere right now become gloomy and boring?
I must show some reaction!
Now that I think about it, now I have got the scholarship!
I can go to Japan!
I can go to the country in my dream!
My dream… since high school…!
Finally…!
“Yes!!! I did it!!!”
I jump up. My hand holding the phone now is in the sky (not really). Even if I accidentally jumped on the nail, I would not notice the pain.
I jump, not only because I want to show my reaction, but also because I am truly content with my achievement.
I look at my friends, whose faces are now painted by colors of joy. The serious face became smiling face, cheering for my success.
They are sometimes just like that! Scaring me on purpose to show the delightful truth afterward!
“Kla! When I know the result, I almost die from happiness! You know?”
Ravy tells me as I walk to sit on the bed. We smile at each other as a congratulation for me.
In stead of “Sela”, Ravy frequently calls me “Kla”, which is another way to impolitely call a female individual. But it should be fine if it is a friend and she does not mind. And for me, it is okay if the one who calls me like this is Ravy because we have been friends since primary school.
Also, what she said is kind of sweet in her own way, so I will let it slide.
Her words remind me of the “good old time” when we were high school students. We took the high school diploma examination to graduate. When she realized that I got grade A, she called me right away. I can still remember her voice which is full of excitement while telling me the news.
As for me at that time, I was having breakfast (Rice with fry pork) while watching TV, not being hurry to see the result at all. How carefree I was…
Both of that time and this time, Ravy sounds like she is really happier than the one who succeed.
I probably cannot be like that.
“Let’s party! And YOU pay for all of us!”
Nimol once again starts her habit of trying to make someone throw a party after his/her achievement.
“Okay! Okay!”
Someday… maybe…
I do not normally celebrate for my own success, so… yeah… this party may never even happen at all.
Anyway, I am going to Japan soon!
Wait…
“I’m going to Japan, so there’re only you two left living in here.”
“Oh! I forgot to tell you. I’m gonna move out.”
“Hah!”
Ravy is going to move out?!
I alternately look at her and Nimol.
“Why?! And have you known about this, Nimol?”
“Yes!” Nimol causally nods.
“My sister’s gonna live in Phnom Penh. Her house is nearer to the university than this place, so I decided to live with her.”
“I see. But Nimol’s gonna be alone here!”
“So what?”
Nimol looks at me with her dead eyes.
Such a cold word…
It is so her…
I turn my face to Ravy.
“So when are you gonna move out?”
“Next month”
“So you’re gonna leave even before I go!”
“Maybe”
“Are you going back to hometown? Now that you’ve known the result and there’s no class or exam anymore?” Asked Nimol.
“Hmmmm… maybe not yet. From now on, the university may call me to complete some document or something. So I need to standby.”
“Oh! I see.”
And after that, Ravy and Nimol continue their scrolling on the phones, and I lay my back on the bed. Having read the manga for the whole day, I do not want to look at the phone anymore.
The room becomes silent. Sometimes I can hear Ravy and Nimol exchanging words about various topics happening on the social media and their lives. However, the people who appear on their conversation are mostly not those I know. So I cannot understand and I do not care.
What I care right now is the fact that Ravy is going to leave for her new home.
Nimol is going to live here alone.
I believe that she can be alone because she is an independent woman. Phnom Penh is a great place to have fun but also not a safe place to live, which is why I am worried about her a little bit. However, Nimol is not dumb. She is more mature than me. So she is gonna be okay.
Wait… Nimol can live with Ravy in her new house!
Why didn’t I think of this?
“Ummm… Nimol…”
I call her while still laying on the bed.
“What?”
“………. Nothing…”
“What a weird girl…”
Nimol look back at her phone, not really caring about my action.
Sigh! I want to ask, but I am not the owner of the house, so I do not have the right to say anything.
If Ravy wanted Nimol to live with her, she would ask Nimol by herself. On the other hand, if Nimol wanted to live in Ravy’s place, she would also ask Ravy by herself. I am just a bystander, having no right to invite Nimol to live with Ravy or to tell Ravy to invite Nimol at all.
Also, they might have already talked about it, and for some unknown reason, they decided to live separately.
Whatever… it is not my problem!
For now, sleeping is better!
I close my eyes. This time, even if my dream is extremely weird or it becomes a nightmare, I believe that when I open my eyes, the beautiful reality is awaiting for me.
(To be continued)
